<p>I've been accepted to UCSD computer science(Warren College) and am awaiting my decision to the university of Toronto(Trinity College) for Computer science. I should be admitted and this leads to the important decision of choosing the right university.
I'm an international student so will be paying roughly the same amount to either place and thankfully, finances are not a problem.
I'm also planning to minor in economics(unrealistic, but i could try). </p>
<p>Factors:
1) The academics. Which would provide the best Computer Science education? U of T is ahead in all the rankings i have seen, but not by much. UCSD normally places at around 15 and U of T at 10. But i'd still like to hear from students from both institutions if they are happy with what they are getting.</p>
<p>2) Internship opportunities: U of T provides the Professional experience year(PEY) program which consists of a 12-16 month paid professional internship. It's almost like a co-op and sounds like an excellent program(would provide great real world experience before entering the job market). Compared to this, what are the internship opportunities at UCSD?</p>
<p>3) What's the job scene like? UCSD is a growing tech hub so it shouldn't be too difficult to bag a good job provided i do well. But take into consideration that internationals have to go through the entire H1-B hassle after 1 year of work, while in canada, internationals can work up to 3 years after graduating without any special visa. But i've got no idea about the job scene in toronto or neighboring canadian cities.</p>
<p>3.5) Prestige: A few of you must have cringed at the sight of that word. haha
this is not a deciding factor but i'd still like to know.=P
Would a degree from toronto illicit a "wow" or at the very least a "cool" response?
And which of the two would be considered more prestigious?</p>
<p>4) and obviously since you only got to uni once(for undergrad at least), which place is more fun? The lively, cold city of toronto, or the laid back warmer So Cal?</p>
<p>I am leaning towards Toronto, but any arguments for or against this decision would be appreciated.
Decisions decisions...</p>
<p>Bumpity Bump
Some one reply please.=)</p>
<p>Hi there! I’m not in the comp sci major and don’t know much about it, so please take this reply with a grain of salt. However, I went to UCLA and transferred to UofT (long, complicated story), and so I’m pretty well-versed in the UC system. Based on my experience, I’d say: UCSD, hands down. </p>
<p>I’m in the midst of formulating a longer response with all the reasons why UofT has been such a disappointing school, but, suffice it to say, there’s just so much lacking at UofT (for undergrads).
Especially after experiencing other universities, I can’t help but think, “RUN!” if someone mentions UofT. There are so many other universities out there that provide a much better learning environment. UofT just cannot adequately serve its huge student body. It just can’t. The inability to accommodate so many students is pervasive in every possible way: the class sizes, the lack of available courses, the instructional methods, housing (from what I’ve heard; I don’t live on-campus), even in trying to find out what your final exam grade was…there are just too many students.</p>
<p>I can give you more specifics if you want.
Again, this is just one person’s experience, so please take it with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>Hey!thanks for replying!=)
Yes more specifics would be great. Don’t want to go through the hassle of transferring later on.
Shouldn’t the computer science classes be smaller than most engineering classes on average?(i’m assuming you’re into something similar)
i’ve checked out the on-campus housing and it seems pretty great(from youtube videos and some pictures). No idea if they have sufficient housing for all incoming freshman or not.
I’d really be interested to know what’s lacking in the u of t undergraduate experience. So spill anything and everything you have.</p>
<p>Nat0001nt and loneranger31, what you mention of U of T is similar too many if not most universities in Canada. There’s a we don’t pamper our students policy unwritten or not. You will find the same at McGill, UBC Alberta, York, Western etc…that includes large classes in freshman and sophomore year and a sink or swim academic atmosphere and having to reach out to the many available ( and yes many are available) resources if you find yourself sinking. that being said, as someone who attended both U of T and an Ivy…I don’t think I lacked anything at U of T in fact I didn’t want to graduate from U of T and could stay there forever if I could remain 21 indefinitely and felt my education there was second to none. but more Americans or foreign students should look at the liberal universities on Canada’s east coast like Mount Allison. They offer more of the “pampering” American students expect from their colleges with small class sizes and roaring student spirit and lower faculty student ratios. The best thing for any foreign student is to visit the campus and talk to the profs and students. keep in mind most of U of T students are commuters. they don’t live on campus which is a good thing cause living off campus in Toronto, is great as there’s so much to do in the city so the issues with the housing aren’t really an issue as commuter life is almost part and parcel to Canadian universities in large cities.</p>
<p>I had a friend in comp sci at uoft. Comp sci majors do tend to avoid many of the over-large intro classes (which normally are gone by 3rd year if not 2nd). If you sign up on time for campus housing they will have a space for you as freshmen get first dibs. As a uoft alumnus myself I may be biased but I found the experience at UofT quite good. In particular I found that the research atmosphere around Toronto was the highpoint. There are literally several kilometers around the university composed of associated research institute, 9 associated teaching hospitals and private laboratories. Nature wrote an article about the rising research atmosphere in Toronto centered around UofT: <a href=“Nature Careers | Science jobs | Choose from 1,135 live vacancies”>Nature Careers | Science jobs | Choose from 1,135 live vacancies;
The quality of the professors are also amazing, I had profs from Harvard, Cambridge, Columbia and McGill. As a bonus many of the upper year courses are taught by the actual full time researchers associated with the university, rather than teaching professors, and they often talk about their current research, so you have the opportunity to be exposed to work that has not even been published yet at the undergraduate level. </p>
<p>If there is a downside to uoft it is that the university has a very professional atmosphere. While there you get the feeling that the student are there to learn and work rather than socialize a lot. Greek life is also minimal (although there are some frats) so you should be aware that social opportunists are something you may have to go out and find for yourself rather than them being presented to you. Paradoxically Frosh week is incredibly awesome for the different colleges with overnight camping trips and paintball and boat cruises, so you are guaranteed to make some friends even before you start classes.</p>